Rail-joint



No. 6l2,446. Patented Oct. la, I898.

T. A. WAKELY.

HAIL JOI NT. (Application filed Feb. 7, 1898.)

No Model.)

- of the joint will be prevented and unevenness llnrrnn STATES THOMAS A. l/VAKELY, OF JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS.

RA 1 L J O l N T SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,446, dated October 18, 1898. Application filedFebruary 7,1898. Serial No. 669,40Q. (N0 model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. WAKELY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in rail-joints and aims to provide a cheap, simple, and efficient device by which the sagging of the track thereby overcome.

The invention consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a rail-joint embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modification.

The rails A and the ties B are of the usual construction and are laid in the usual manner. The ends of the rails may be fastened together by bolts and fish-plates, as shown, and as will bereadily understood.

A truss-rail C is placed over the ends of the ties and secured thereto by spikes D, the said truss-rail extending over several ties on each side of the tie E, which supports the ends of the rails. This truss-rail is constructed with a longitudinal rib F on its upper side to reinforce the same, and at its center it is slightly arched, as shown at G. Velded to the under side of the rail below the said arch is a loop or hanger H, which is adapted to pass under the tie and fit around the same, so as to form a support therefor. If greater economy is desired, the arch G may be omitted and the rail carried downward under the tie, as shown at Iin Fig. 3.

It will be seen at once from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that I have provided a bridge-like arrangement for supporting the tie on which the ends of the rails rest, by which the strain is transmitted to and distributed over five or seven ties, so that the ends of the rails are supported firmly against sagging and an even track-surface is assured.

The device is easily applied to a track and requires no attention after being put in place.

In street-railways the device will be buried, so as to be out of sight, and will positively support the ends of the rails in the same horizontal plane as the centers of the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a railroad-track,the combination with the track-rails and the ties, of a truss-rail secured to the ties by spikes, provided with a longitudinal rib on its upper side and having a depending loop at its center passing under. and supporting the tie on which the ends of the rails rest.

2. In a railroad-track, the combination with the track-rails and the ties, of a truss-rail se cured to the ties byspikes, provided with a longitudinal rib on its upper side and having its center arched, and a depending loop secured to the truss-rail at its center and pass ing under andsupporting the tie on which the ends of the track-rails rest.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS A. WAKELY. 

